Poecilia parae
Poecilia parae has many synonyms: Acanthophacelus melanzonus, Micropoecilia amazonica, Micropoecilia melanzona, Micropoecilia parae, Poecilia amazonica, Poecilia melanzona, Poecilia vivipara parae. These fish naturally inhabit the Amazon River basin in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. The fish can be found in freshwater and brackish estuaries, small marshes, and slow-flowing streams. The fish are not difficult to keep and can be recommended to novice aquarists.
Poecilia parae has a laterally compressed body elongated spindle shape. The fins are elongated, rounded. The mouth is small, upper. Standard coloration of males from dark-silver to olive with light blue sheen. The dorsal and caudal fins are light green with iridescent gloss. The dorsal fin has black mottling. The tail plumage is decorated with alternating black and white stripes. The anal fin is translucent gray. Along the body, from the anal fin to the root of the tail plumage are 4-6 black stripes. Females and immature males are dull olive with a bright silvery belly. The fins are translucent olive without markings. One pale black band extends vertically from the anterior part of the anal fin. In males, the anal fin is in the form of a long gonopod. Females have a rounded abdomen. The size of males reaches 3 cm and females about 5 cm.
Poecilia parae is suitable for keeping in small aquariums from 50 liters. Fish can easily be kept in a common aquarium with other peace-loving fish, such as cardinals, danio, Rasborov, as well as shrimp.
Dark river sand is used as a substrate. The entire perimeter of the aquarium is densely planted. On the surface of the water are placed a few bushes of floating plants. At the bottom of the grottoes and snags, which will serve as shelter for the fish. Also need to take care of the availability of open areas for free swimming fish. The fish occupy the upper and middle layers of water.
Water parameters: temperature 24-28° C, hardness dH 5-10°, pH 7,0-7,5. Requires filtration, aeration and weekly changes of ¼ of it with fresh water. The water must be crystal clear. It is desirable to ensure a small flow of water, for example, by directing the withdrawal nozzle water filter along the back wall of the aquarium. Although these fish may be kept in fresh water, they breed in slightly brackish water.
The fish menu consists of live and frozen artemia, bloodworms, flake food and pelleted food. The food is given twice a day.
Reproduction
Poecilia parae females reach sexual maturity at the age of 8 months and males at 6 months.
For breeding fish need a spawning aquarium of 40 liters, which should be filled with brackish water, which need to dissolve 1 teaspoon of sea salt in 40 liters of fresh water. The water temperature should be between 27-28° C. The substrate is not required.
In the spawning tank placed producers in the ratio of 1 male to 3 females. Stimulate spawning abundant feeding several times a day with a variety of foods with predominance of chironomid. Females mate with several males at once.
After mating games, males should be removed from the spawning tank. During pregnancy, the pregnant spot on females gradually darkens. Pregnancy lasts about 24 days. Spawning takes place at dawn. In total, the female gives birth to 5-16 fry. Immediately after birth the fry hide among the leaves of plants. As soon as the females spawn they need to be removed.
The fry are fed crushed flakes, crumbled egg yolks, and when they are a little older begin to give artemia.
The life expectancy of Poecilia parae is about 4-6 years.
